by Jerry Tieng

The introduction of an alternative model without the AA filter – the D800E!

The AA filter is an optical low pass filter added in front of the sensor to produce some blurring to
the image, specifically between two adjacent pixels. Why? That way curved or diagonal parts of the
image are softened to eliminate jagged or staircase look produced by the sensor whose pixels are
arranged in a square array. The result is an increased acuity – or sharpness and increased contrast, if
you will. Someone did say that it felt like haze was lifted off his eyes, though I think that it’s a bit of an exaggeration. Medium format backs and Leicas all do not have AA filters and I believe it was only made possible now because of the high pixel count and improved resolving power of a recent slew of new
lenses from Nikon. (24/1.4G, 50/1.8G, 35/1.4G, etc..)

So the question in everyone’s mind is – D800 or D800E? My simple answer is – if you shoot mostly
landscapes, go D800E. If you shoot a lot of man-made things, go D800. Or more philosophically, if you do
not know what an AA filter is, do not even bother with the D800E.

In closing, the one-two-three punch of Nikon’s D4-D800-D800E release with improved video capabilities
plus the entry level D3200 and the rumored low-cost full frame D600 proves that Nikon is very much in
the game against its much bigger office-equipment rival.

And we true-blue Nikonians (those who have not entertained even an iota of thought to switch) have
another tool at our disposal to continue making fantastic and awe-inspiring images – much to the
chagrin of our wives or girlfriends.

Keep shooting!